Hiccups in the Job Market

Hiccups in the Job Market

Weekly Market Commentary There have been no flareups since the bank failures in early March, and the crisis continues to simmer on the back burner. But anxieties haven’t completely subsided. Last week the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job openings fell...
Inflation – It Hasn’t Gone Away

Inflation – It Hasn’t Gone Away

Weekly Market Commentary Inflation was uppermost on the minds of investors, Fed officials, and policymakers until the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) forced price stability to play second fiddle to banking stability. The banking crisis has eased amid tentative...
A Dovish Rate Increase

A Dovish Rate Increase

Weekly Market Commentary The Federal Reserve raised its key lending rate, the fed funds rate, by 25 basis points (bp, 1 bp = 0.01%) to a range of 4.75 – 5.00%, as most observers had expected. A few saw no change. Before the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a...
Not a George Bailey Moment

Not a George Bailey Moment

Weekly Market Commentary George Bailey is the fictional character in the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Set mostly in the 1920s and 1930s, George runs the Building & Loan, a thrift that’s besieged by worried depositors. George appealed to his customers not to...
SVB Bank Failure and Bailout Dominates the Financial News

SVB Bank Failure and Bailout Dominates the Financial News

Weekly Market Commentary In the last 48 hours we’ve seen the 15th largest bank fail due to a lack of liquidity and then be bailed out by the Fed overnight. This crisis might stop the Fed from increasing rates next week.  The Fed is caught between two tough...
Pandemic Distortions

Pandemic Distortions

Weekly Market Commentary The economic distortions tied to that pandemic and the government’s massive response to prop up the economy have been far-reaching. Before continuing, let’s look at some facts and definitions. Consumer spending accounts for 70% of the total...